Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #66

Good afternoon,

Today's topic is the sixty-sixth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed Luke Skywalker outside the entrance to a cave where his X-Wing fighter had been stored, watching a quartet of Imperial TIE fighters fly past. The story was called "The Water Bandits!" The issue had a cover date of December 1982.

The tale began on the planet Beheboth, where Skywalker was forced to land after learning that his ship was unable to enter hyperspace and return to the Rebel home planet of Arbra (after suffering minor damage caused by a pistol shot on Golrath last issue). He hid out in a cave, watching TIEs fly by, not noticing him at all. He thought he had enough provisions to last a while, until he opened a container and discovered that his food had been infested by sand lice.

Luke then decided to venture out to the nearest town of Garrotine in search of food and water. The smell of baked bantha from a nearby establishment aroused his interest. He was able to use his credits to buy food, but was informed that water wasn't available for strangers. His pointed objection to that statement drew the attention of a trio of patrons. They tried to subdue him, and a fight broke out. Even though Luke held his own, the melee was ended by a warning shot from a native named Darial.

Skywalker's attackers knew that Darial was loyal to their plight against the brigands and understood why she stood up for the stranger in their midst. Luke was thankful for her intervention and was convinced to join her crew after seeing a trio of Stormtroopers searching for him just outside the restaurant. The pair then took Darial's landspeeder to her farm. The farm had a tall wall around it and was heavily guarded. 

It was a moisture farm, one that was not that dissimilar from the one Luke grew up working on back on Tatooine. Darial assigned Luke to protect the farm, even though the young Jedi doubted it needed much protection from him. She sat with him during his first watch duty that evening and explained how the employees had grown into a community where everyone trusted each other. Darial was about to say more when she suddenly fell ill, and a set of strange green telepathic organisms filled the air. Luke soon lost consciousness, much like Darial did.

Skywalker awoke the next morning to find Darial missing and the base had been trashed. One of her counterparts informed him that brigands had attacked and taken her. He pointed the way to her base, which was a destination that Luke was determined to reach. He made the journey alone and had no sooner entered the complex when he was taken by gunpoint to the brigands' leader, Gideon Longspur. 

The villain had indeed captured Darial. He was also holding the green organisms in a glass dome. They were called Terriths and were empathic organisms that were being forced to do the brigands' bidding. The beings were made of an energy mist that could be drawn into vaporators. Once inside, they would then combine with the existing condensation chemicals to create an odorless, colorless gas that could make humans unconscious. That would then leave their employers free to raid and pillage as they saw fit. 

Luke and Darial were then put in a cell together. They were weaponless, but still far from helpless. Several Terriths floated around in the air, wishing to help the farmers. They fluttered around the air in front of the guards, distracting them from their game of cards at the table in front of the cell. Luke then used the Force to open their cell and escape.

By the time that Darial and Skywalker reached the central chamber of the brigand fort, Longspur was waiting for them, with Luke's ignited lightsaber in his hands. Luke's attacker was reckless and used the blade to accidentally break the glass dome that held the rest of the Terriths. Luke then knocked out his foe and reclaimed his father's weapon.

Outside, dozens of soldiers were charging to attack. The Terriths asked their rescuers to trust them. They did, and Darial fired at the water tanks next to them. They broke open, and gallons of water flooded the plains, washing away the enemies in the process. Luke and Darial fled to higher ground, where they waited for some time.

Afterward, they returned to the farm with the Terriths. Their new friends were gracious enough to seed the clouds so that rain fell upon the land for the first time in years. The farmers could now collect as much water as they wanted. That image was one that Luke held onto as he eventually left the planet after having repaired his X-Wing and set a course for Arbra.

I didn't have this issue until just a few years ago. When it first came out, we didn't have comic book shops in my area, and I was lucky to find issues when I could at my local drug store or big box retailers. This was an interesting one-off, and I'm glad that I finally acquired it. It was an interesting story, featuring characters who sadly have yet to return to the Marvel Star Wars universe. This was also the last issue that Walt Simonson worked on. He would go on to be the writer and artist for The Mighty Thor and later team up with his wife, Louise Simonson, on the X-Factor title.

Well, that's it for now. Next time, I'll tackle the sixty-seventh issue of this series. A new penciler joins David Michelinie and Tom Palmer to chronicle an offbeat story that happened right before the Rebels were about to resume their search for Han Solo. It involves R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca, several Hoojibs, and a mysterious character that none of them expected. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #65

Good afternoon all,

It's time for me to discuss the sixty-fifth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover, drawn by the issue's penciler and inker Tom Palmer, showed Princess Leia Organa going up against Imperial Leftenant Giel. The tale was titled "Golrath Never Forgets!" The issue had a cover date of November 1982. 

The story started in the Rebel base on the planet Arbra. Luke Skywalker was standing on trial before Leia and Generals Rieekan and Veertag. He'd been charged with desertion, murder, theft, and treason. Several screens throughout the complex recounted the acquisition of several Imperial TIE fighters that were used by Luke and his fellow pilots to infiltrate the Empire's armada. This battle apparently took the life of Luke's wingmate, Shira Brie.

Skywalker's ship fired upon Brie, and he was subsequently stripped of rank pending an inquiry. Luke and Chewbacca then left in the Millennium Falcon without permission for the planet Shalyvane, which Brie had claimed was her homeworld. There, they discovered a transmitter used to contact Darth Vader. The duo then flew to Krake's Planet, made their way into the Imperial data vault, and brought back a recording that confirmed that Brie was an Imperial agent who'd been planted in the Rebellion to discredit her flight commander.

The tribunal examined the evidence and returned with a verdict of not guilty on all accounts. They recommended that Luke be reinstated to his previous rank, which he cheerfully accepted. While many on the base were celebrating Commander Skywalker's return to grace, others, like Milo (who had goaded the disgraced Rebel into a fist fight in issue #62) were unconvinced of his innocence. 

Luke's fellow pilot, Thorben, was chatting with his ally Gemmer afterward, when he noticed his friend's tiredness. Gemmer explained that he'd been up all night, after being distracted by lights that had emanated from a paperweight that he'd brought back from their former temporary base on the planet Golrath. Thorben then insisted on examining the bauble personally. 

Meanwhile, Luke and Leia were discussing matters in Organa's personal chambers. Their conversation was interrupted by Thorben's call on the viewscreen. He recommended that his superiors report to the analytics lab as soon as possible. A short while later, Doctor Wella placed the stone inside a machine, and those in the room soon saw an image of Luke when he'd been afflicted by the Crimson Forever (which happened back in issue #50). The stones were apparently capable of storing light and playing back images that they had captured.

Leia grew concerned that the rocks might contain a visual history of their time on that planet, and it could be a danger if the Empire discovered them. Fighter squads were hastily scrambled and set off for Golrath. Little did they know that there was already a small Imperial presence on that planet, led by former Admiral Giel.

Giel was the one whose armada Luke and company had attacked. He was guarding a Teezl, which was an organic being that had been captured to vastly improve Imperial communication across the galaxy. Its destruction angered Vader, who surprisingly allowed Giel to live, but demoted him in rank to leftenant and assigned him to less important matters like patrolling this planet. Despite all of that, Giel still took his role seriously and planned to return to his former status eventually.

A short while later, a pair of Giel's Stormtroopers took a break. They were surprised to see a Rebel patrol charging at them, and began firing in retaliation. They soon learned that they'd blasted nothing but stones that had contained images of a Rebel training operation. Giel had been drawn to the area by the shooting and realized what he had. 

Not long afterward, the Rebel fighters entered Golrath's atmosphere. They soon found themselves in a firefight. Leia jumped from her Y-Wing and used a jetpack to descend to their former base. She used a small explosive to penetrate the outer shield, not knowing that she was being watched remotely by Giel. The leftenant knew exactly who the intruder was, but decided to see how far she could get. 

Organa easily took out the two guards that had been stationed near her before making her way to the reactor room. Once inside, she was fired upon by a shot from Giel's pistol. The two engaged in a battle of wits, one which was determined to destroy the station after the Imperial closed the blast doors, released the overhead damper, and activated the station's self-destruct sequence. 

Leia feigned surrender, only to trick Giel. She'd tied the hip from her pistol's holster to a cart that she'd put her jetpack on. She activated the pack and sent the cart careening toward her opponent, who was knocked down instantly. She then opened the nearest door control and escaped.

Giel walked away, unscathed but discouraged. Outside the complex, Leia was picked up via a cable extended from another Y-Wing. Luke's X-Wing flew behind as support, and his ship suffered what seemed to be a minor hit from Giel's pistol. That shot improved Giel's confidence slightly, and it was raised even further when he'd been informed that Vader had already been informed by his transport's pilot on the success of his mission, and that the Sith Lord was waiting for him to make a personal report on his cruiser. 

While Giel's vessel was charting a course for the Star Destroyer Executor, the Rebel fighters were fleeing Golrath moments before the station exploded. Having accomplished their mission, the fighters went into hyperspace. All that is, except for Luke's X-Wing. The pistol shot had apparently knocked out its hyperdrive capabilities, leaving him all alone in space with several TIE fighters on his tail.

This issue had a good cliffhanger ending. I just wish that I'd had the following issue when I was a kid, and had to wait until I was an adult to find out what had happened next. This was a nice callback to the fiftieth issue, and I was satisfied seeing Giel redeem himself a bit. It's too bad that this was his last appearance in this title. To the best of my knowledge, he has not appeared in another Marvel comic book since. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the sixty-sixth issue of this series. We'll find out if Luke was able to escape the TIEs and learn where he wound up after the destruction of the Golrath base. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) Annual #2

Good afternoon, everyone,

Hope everyone's having a great Sunday! It's time for me to discuss the second Star Wars comic annual, which was published in 1982. The cover showed Han Solo and an as-yet-unidentified woman standing in a doorway, with a half-dozen bald, robed men standing sideways around them. The story was called "Shadeshine!"

It all began on the planet Ventooine, as Lando Calrissian, Luke Skywalker, and C-3PO were running from attacking Stormtroopers. They'd arrived on the planet to search for a rumored impressive power source, not realizing that the Empire might have the same goal in mind. The trio ran for cover inside the nearest building, only to find a giant statue of Solo right in front of them.

None of them knew that Han had ever been to this world before. A few moments later, they were greeted by a bald, red-robed man (similar to the ones shown on this issue's cover) who was named Vetter Piin. He was the caretaker of the shrine, and noticed the similarities between his new acquaintances and the man he'd come to know as their savior.

Piin went on to say that Solo was the one who'd saved their people from the dangers of Starshine, an element that both the Rebellion and the Empire had been looking for. He then moved closer to the statue and touched the tip of his cane to one of the memory stones at its base, which had been used to record Han's words about the ordeal. Solo agreed to make this recording as both a favor and a warning.

It all began several years back, when he and Chewbacca set down on the planet in the Millennium Falcon. Han had heard of a valuable spice called Sansanna that could only be found on Ventooine, and set out to investigate in person after donning a hasty disguise. Han ventured out into town by himself and stopped to help an old man wearing a red robe after he'd been pushed down by some rather gruff-looking soldiers. 

The man thanked the stranger for his aid and answered Han's question about where the nearest cantina was. At that watering hole, Solo inadvertently caused a bit of chaos simply by asking the barkeep where he could acquire some Sansanna. Upon hearing that word, several patrons tried to accost him. Han fled the establishment, not knowing that a promenade was going on at the same time in the city streets to honor their leadership.

Piin had been watching the parade from a rooftop, along with an associate who was ready to end the tieress named Chrysalla's life. Piin begged his counterpart to refrain, reminding him of the prophecy that told of a stranger with weapons and ways much different than their own who would help them overthrow the tyranny of the Satab. 

It soon became obvious that Han was the person who would fill that role. He made his way to the Chrysalla's carriage and used his blaster to destroy the explosive that Piin's colleague Phalar had thrown. The woman beside him recognized his bravery and invited Han to ride along with her. However, little did he know at the time that Phalar and Piin had viewed him as a threat at the time, one that they decided had to be eliminated. 

The celebration continued inside the palace, where Han soon met the Satab, or ultimate ruler, of the planet. He then saw why he was feared. Phalaf rose to confront the Satab, who calmly reached out his hand to grasp his foe, and the once lively eighteen-year-old man suddenly began to grow old and died in a matter of moments.

A while later, the Satab approached Han and asked him about his blaster. Evidently, such types of weapons had never been witnessed on that world before. He produced it before surrendering the gun to the Satab's guards. Solo then noticed his host pouring a bit of Sansanna into a bowl.

Han was led to his quarters later that evening, but found that he couldn't sleep. He opted to search his surroundings and came across Chrysalla along the way. She informed him of the guard patrols. Neither of them knew that the Satab was observing the duo from his own chambers. He had reason to suspect that his guest was up to no good.

Hours later, Han and Chyrsalla continued to talk on her balcony. Solo learned that the charm around the Satab's neck was called Shadeshine. It was able to heighten, transmit, and receive certain senses. The talisman also gave him powers like the ones evidenced during the banquet earlier. Chrysalla knew that her host was evil, but felt obligated to remain loyal to him. 

The pair soon heard footsteps outside the door, which was Han's cue to leave. He descended the balcony and returned to his own quarters. Later that morning, the Satab invited Solo to join them on a quest for specific minerals that were valuable to him. Han proved his bravery once more in a cavern,as he defeated a lumbering beast that threatened to harm the group. The Satab then announced aloud that he'd found his successor.

News of that proclamation spread fast, and Piin and some of his associates gathered later that afternoon to converse. They knew that they had to act fast before the power was transferred. As the evening approached, the Satab requested Han's presence so that he could hand over the Shadeshine to him, but first he brought out Piin, whom Han had rescued the previous day. 

A scuffle ensued, and Han and Chrysalla escaped with Han's pistol, but without the Shadeshine. Solo wanted to go back for the gem because of its value, until Chrysalla informed him that whoever used the gem would become so sensitive to external stimuli after a year that they would burn out and need to transfer it to someone else. She added that previous Satabs had gone into suspended animation, in the hopes that the effects could eventually be reversed. 

She then pressed a panel on the wall by her to reveal a secret door, which slowly rose to reveal the hundreds of prior Satabs who were resting sideways in suspended animation. Moments later, the current Satab arrived. He used the Shadeshine to destroy Han's blaster, and Solo tossed a large boulder at his opponent.

After throwing the rock back at Solo, the Satab then engaged in a battle with Chrysanna, who now had the stone. The Satab began to weaken and rushed toward the nullification chamber. Han tossed another stone at the evil ruler, which ended his existence. 

Moments later, Piin arrived on the scene. Han suggested a celebration, but Chrysanna knew that her fate had been sealed the moment that she touched the Shadeshine. She voluntarily entered the chamber and left her former life. Piin later gave Solo the gem, which he planned to eject from the Falcon's thrust tubes to be vaporized in space as soon as possible.

The recording ended shortly thereafter. Luke then had an idea based on the story to lure their opponents. Outside the nullification chambers, the troopers were aroused by the sound of a voice coming from inside the room. They charged in, only to have Luke jump out and throw the light switch. The Imperials were now locked in the same meditative trances as the rest of the room's occupants.

Lando recognized Chrysalla among those now frozen in that chamber. Piin observed that they all owed her a great deal. As the Rebels departed via a Y-Wing fighter later on, it wasn't lost on them just how the actions of friends old and new helped to save the people on the planet below. 

Even though I still don't care much for Carmine Infantino's artwork, I still thought that this was an interesting yarn. It would have been even more impressive if Marvel's creative team had returned to the planet with Han after the events that occurred in the Return of the Jedi adaptation. Another entertaining one-off tale that fit well for an annual, most of which are rarely connected to the regular title. 

Well, that's all I have for now. Next time, I'll return to the main storyline as I recap the sixty-fifth issue of this series. We'll find out Luke's fate after he and Chewbacca return to Arbra with evidence about Shira Brie. The Rebellion will also visit a former base as danger from their past resurfaces. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #64

Hi everyone,

The focus of this article will be the sixty-fourth issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed the face of a green alien, with images of Luke Skywalker's face in its red eyes. The tale was titled "Serphidian Eyes." The issue had a publication date of October 1982.

The story began with an alien projected onto a screen that looked much like the one shown on the issue's cover. Princess Leia Organa was standing in front of the display, along with several fellow Rebel Alliance members. She explained that the being was a native of a planet in the Belial system. The Rebellion was concerned about the Empire's influence in that sector of the galaxy, and that its current ruler had definite leanings toward their foes.

C-3PO and R2-D2 were unable to participate in the meeting because of their upcoming maintenance appointments. Berl joked that he could pull a few strings to get them involved, but Luke and Cinda were confident they could handle the job on their own. A short time later, a trio of X-Wing fighters took off from Arbra en route to Belial.

After a short hyperspace jump, the ships were nearing Serphidi. Cinda spotted a quartet of ships on her radar, which turned out to be TIE fighters. The Rebel ships fought well, but Cinda's ship was damaged in the melee. She lost a set of S-foils as she crashed on the planet below. Having vanquished their foes, Luke and Berl soon landed to come to their friend's aid.

Cinda was in better shape than her fighter. However, she and her comrades soon faced another threat, which was a cadre of armed natives who rode large green lizards. They fired a series of energy bolts from their lances. One shot took out Berl permanently, while another injured Cinda. Luke managed to escape, but fortunately, his attackers chose not to pursue him.

Meanwhile, Luke was exploring his new surroundings. He heard the cries of someone in danger and found that another native was caught in the clutches of a large plant. A single shot from his pistol freed the elderly man, who was named Elglih. He was very thankful for Luke's timely assistance and invited him to his home for shelter and a warm meal.

After dinner, Luke thanked his host and his wife and got the explanation that Elglih had promised. He started by saying that the planet was once known for its superior technology, but that it was often used for destructive purposes. They became embroiled in senseless conflicts for many generations. Everything changed when a pact was signed that outlawed technology and united its populace under the rule of a sole king. Their aggression was then funneled into a series of jousting contests, like the one that the old man was training for when Luke found him. 

Things changed slightly when the current shah came to power. He insisted that the bouts become matches to the death. He added that he could only be supplanted by someone who defeated them in such a contest, which is just what Elglih wanted to do, for the sake of his people. Many before him had failed in that effort, but Elglih was confident that he would succeed. He then got the idea that young Luke would be his squire. Luke was reluctant at first, but realized it might help him learn more about the current ruler, and agreed to the role.

Inside King S'shah's castle, the monarch was satisfied with his captive. Cinda stood before him being judged, and was horrified to learn that she was intended to be his future meal. What she didn't know was that Luke was training with Elglih. He was a bit rusty at first, but continued to improve more and more until it was time for the competition to begin.

Cinda was being tended to by an aide of the king's before she fought off a guard. She was almost about to leave the castle when she was accosted from behind by S'shah. A little while later on, Elglih was announced as a contestant. However, he announced that he could not participate because of a recent injury, and that his squire would serve in his stead. Luke then saw Cinda on the sideline, an observation which made the contest a bit more intriguing for the king.

Both combatants were evenly matched at the start, but S'shah proved to be more proficient, due to his additional experience in such competitions. Luke's lance was broken during the fracas, and he had to resort to using a hefty slap to dismount his opponent. He then grabbed his foe's lance after unseating him, and was forced to use it after Elglih pointed out that the king had taken a small blaster from his belt. One burst, and the shah's rule was over.

The people could now celebrate their freedom. Elglih had accepted the crown, although he thought that Luke had rightly earned it. Skywalker was happy enough that Cinda was free and that the planet would now be an ally of the Rebel Alliance. On the way back, the two pilots talked about how they missed Berl's presence at the celebration they had just attended. Luke understood Cinda's sympathy for their fallen colleague and noted that Berl gave his life knowing that he'd at least helped one planet find its freedom. 

I first received a copy of this issue for my tenth birthday (most comic books at the time had publication dates that were 2-3 months ahead of when they could be found on store shelves). Having read the previous storyline, I knew that the events in this issue took place either before or after that. I wasn't a big fan of penciler Joe Brozowski's work, but longtime comic book inker Vince Colletta saved the art for the most part. It wasn't uncommon back then for comic book companies to have issues like this prepared in case of a late or missed deadline or other reasons, and this issue seemed to be serviceable in that regard. This was the one and only appearance of the Serphidians in this series.

That's it for this article. I'll return to covering the regular ongoing storyline in a bit. Next up is a recap of the second Star Wars annual. Luke, Lando Calrissian, and Threepio run into a bit of trouble on another planet and wind up hearing a tale from Han Solo's past. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #63

Good morning,

Hope everyone's doing well. It's time for me to talk about the sixty-third issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover, drawn by the late Tom Palmer, showed Luke Skywalker reeling from the appearance of Darth Vader before him. The story was called "The Mind Spider!" The issue had a cover date of September 1982. 

The tale began on the planet Shalyvane, as Luke was warning Chewbacca to retreat from Vader, who seemed to have found them. In truth, the image was nothing more than a holographic message, as evidenced by the fact that Luke's subsequent blaster shot went right through him. The prerecorded message had been triggered by Luke's blood chemistry that came into contact with the Circle of Kavaan's transmitter (as witnessed last issue).

It was the same method that the Sith Lord used to contact his operative, Shira Brie. Skywalker was stunned to hear that his former wingmate, whom he'd taken out during the recent Rebel assault on Admiral Giel's fleet (shown in issue #61) was an Imperial spy. The recording went on to say that Brie had been an Imperial Major and had been trained and implanted in the Rebellion for the sole purpose of Luke's destruction. If she were to fail in accomplishing that goal, she was meant to ruin Skywalker's reputation and credibility within the Alliance. Since Luke was there and had activated the recording, it was safe to assume that the latter had come to fruition. Vader then implored Luke to join his cause before the recording faded.

Luke, Chewie, and the Shalyvane native G'hinji stood awestruck for several moments before Skywalker advised them to duck for cover. Moments later, the transmitter exploded. Luke was frustrated that Vader was a step or two ahead of him. He knew that his next stop had to be the Imperial data vault on Krake's Planet. He needed some concrete proof that would clear him of the accusations that he'd murdered a colleague during the aforementioned attack.

Meanwhile, on Vader's flagship. Giel was reporting to his superior. The meditation chamber hissed open, and Vader spun around in his chair to admonish Giel's recent failures. Giel refused to take blame for the loss of the Teezl, but asserted that he would accept responsibility for its destruction as well as any punishment that would be placed upon him. Vader admired his integrity and courage, and allowed Giel to remain in service to the Empire, albeit at the reduced rank of Leftenant. 

Shortly after Giel left the room, another commander arrived to inform Vader of the demise of the transmitter on Shalyvane. Vader then ordered a course to be set for Krake's Planet. He knew that world would be Skywalker's next destination.

Speaking of Luke, he and Chewie had just set the Millennium Falcon down on that planet and were navigating through a tunnel around a native creature before they could even view the complex. The base had been constructed inside the carcass of a large slug, which looked a lot like a modern-day spider. It was well guarded, but Luke found a less conspicuous way to get inside.

Back on Arbra, Princess Leia Organa and Plif were concerned about Luke's whereabouts. Leia had the feeling that if Skywalker didn't clear himself and return to the Rebellion soon, it could spell disaster for the freedom fighters. It seemed that Luke was still essential to their organization and was needed now more than ever.

The attention then shifted to a kitchen inside the data vault. The cook made sure his latest concoction was up to snuff before allowing a captain to begin his meal. The captain preferred eating in solitude, stating that the mess hall could be a little chaotic at times. Unfortunately for him, his break was about to be interrupted by the arrival of Skywalker and Chewbacca. The Wookiee held the cook captive, while Luke asked the officer how he could bring up information from the central database on the nearby kitchen computer console. He then tossed a vial in his hand that he said contained a deadly poison, and admitted that he'd slipped some of it in the officer's meal. 

The captain immediately started feeling ill, and went to the terminal. Four levels away, outside the entrance to the main computer section, a quartet of Stormtroopers was awaiting Luke, until one of them received a notification about top-secret data being sent illegally to the kitchen computer. In the kitchen, the captain begged for the antidote, only to be knocked out by Chewie before Luke said he'd only dropped a few soap flakes from the dishwashing droid into the bowl instead.

Luke then pressed record and playback before running the information he'd requested. A program ran showing Shira Elan Colla Brie. She was listed as a major in the Imperial Special Forces, who had been born on the Imperial homeworld and raised in Emperor Palpatine's palace as a subject for an adolescent indoctrination experiment. The experiment was deemed a complete success. 

Brie achieved expert rankings in all forms of combat and had even been biologically adjusted to accelerated physical healing and to reject pain. She graduated from the Imperial Academy with top honors and had been personally chosen by Vader to infiltrate the Rebellion. The devastation of Shalyvane's city of Chinshassa was used as her background. The purpose of the project was to either effectively or actually eliminate Skywalker. 

The recording ended, and it confirmed why the Force had told Luke that she was an enemy. It still left a few questions in his mind, but he didn't have time to ponder them, for the machine was shot just after the recording tape ejected. The troopers who had been waiting outside the main computer center had made their way inside the kitchen. However, they proved to be rather inefficient at their job.

Luke was able to fight his way through the soldiers, but they eventually cut him off from Chewbacca. Some troopers continued to follow and fire at him as he made his way back to the Falcon, just as Vader's fleet was arriving and the Dark Lord was sending more ground troops to the planet. Once inside the cockpit, Luke reached out with the Force again to find Chewie's location.

Chewbacca was at the same door they'd used to enter the station. Skywalker then used his influence through the Force to reach into an Imperial commander's mind and instruct her to disengage the protective energy shield at once. Luke was then able to fly over and rescue his friend. In doing so, he released his hold on the commander, who then immediately ordered that the shield be raised.

Luke raised the Falcon's deflector screens and made a direct approach to the complex, causing its complete and utter end. Vader did not predict that course of action, but knew the Falcon was trying to escape. He directed a bosun to track the ship, but they were moments too late, as the smaller vessel had already made the jump to hyperspace. 

Once they were safely out of harm's way, Luke reflected aloud about their adventure. He wished that he'd been able to retrieve the tape and learned that Chewie had stayed behind to get it. His copilot pulled the recording from his pouch, which instantly put a smile on his friend's face. Back on the Super Star Destroyer, Vader had entered the medical lab. The droid FX-9 informed his master that his patient had suffered significant damage, but that her extraordinary recuperative capabilities would help her pull through. Even though the recovery process would be long and uncertain, Vader still had future plans for Shira Brie. 

I felt that this was a rather satisfying conclusion to this storyline. Shira was an interesting character, and we would see her again, but by the time she returned, both writer David Michelinie and penciler Walt Simonson had moved on to other projects. There was a good mix of levity and seriousness in this issue, and this particular story filled in some of the gaps that regular readers had noticed. 

That's all I have for this issue. Next time, I'll cover the sixty-fourth issue of this series. This issue is a fill-in that serves as a bit of a bridge between storylines. A new threat is revealed to the Alliance, and Luke and several of his allies are sent to investigate. They'll encounter something that seems like a page out of history for us. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #62

Happy Friday, everyone,

It's time for me to cover the sixty-second issue of the first Star Wars comic series. The cover showed a portrait of Luke Skywalker in blood red. Even the traditional cover box illustration of R2-D2 and C-3PO was in a shade of pink. The tale was titled "Pariah!" The issue had a cover date of August 1982.

The story started in the Rebel conference room on the planet Aphra, where Skywalker was shaken by the revelation (last issue) that he appeared to have killed his friend and fellow Alliance pilot Shira Brie during their battle with the Imperial armada. Luke recounted what he remembered to Leia Organa. He talked about the TIE fighters they used to infiltrate the Imperial fleet. The TIE fighter he'd fired upon was between him and his target. Since the transceivers installed on their ships to determine friends from foes had gone out, he'd relied on the Force to determine the side that the blockading pilot was on. The Force told him it was an enemy, and he reacted accordingly.

Leia believed her friend. At the same time, she couldn't support him because of what had happened. Luke silently replied that he understood. He knew that siding with him then would possibly throw their entire movement into chaos, and that their cause was more important than any one individual. He later left the room in a huff after being stripped of his rank.

A little while later, when Luke entered the busy cafeteria, the room went silent once his presence was observed. He tried to get something to eat, but he soon got the impression that he wasn't wanted there. Another Rebel named Milo accused Skywalker of having ulterior motives for wanting Shira gone, which led to a brief altercation before Luke retreated to his quarters.

While he was trying to make sense of things, Luke kicked a small chest that contained the medal he'd been given for his bravery during the assault on the Death Star. He bent down to examine it, and thought about what he'd been taught by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. His reverie was interrupted momentarily by the arrival of Artoo and Threepio. The protocol droid had news to share about possible leads as to the whereabouts of Boba Fett, the bounty hunter who had been granted possession of Han Solo's carbonite-encased body back on Cloud City. Skywalker was too busy searching for answers to his current predicament to be too concerned about that information just then.

A little while later, in the planet's spaceship hangar, Luke approached Lando Calrissian about borrowing the Millennium Falcon. Luke wasn't able to obtain a ship of his own without his commission. Lando wasn't concerned about that, and wasn't likely to let him borrow the ship, after what had happened to Shira. He had specific instructions not to let Luke anywhere near the Falcon, but soon left to pick up his spare cape at the laundry. Luke was then approached by a guard and asked to leave, before Chewbacca intervened. He made short work of the guard's blaster, causing him to flee in terror. The Wookiee then grabbed his friend and took off.

The Falcon made the trip to Shalyvane, which Shira had claimed was her homeworld. Chewie and Luke set the ship down before heading out on foot. They walked quietly down a city alleyway, not knowing they were being watched from above. Nets were thrown over each of them before a band of nomads rushed to attack. Luke used his lightsaber to free himself before cutting Chewbacca loose.

Skywalker knew from experience (having battled other nomads in issue #60) how aggressive the natives were, and led his companion to safety by going back to where they first entered. They found refuge in an older building, one that wasn't entirely deserted. An older nomad named G'hinji sat in a corner and begged for peace. Luke wanted to know about the humans who once lived there. G'hinji replied that humans had never lived in the city of Chinshassa. 

He went on to say that the city had been built up and populated by his own people for many years, until it was destroyed and turned into rubble by Imperial bombers. Luke was incredulous upon hearing this. He wondered if what Shira had told him and his fellow wingmates earlier had been a lie. He wanted to seek out the Circle of Kavaan, which G'hinji agreed to if the stranger could pass a simple test.

The old man put a stone under one of the three cups on the ground. If Luke could find the cup that the stone was hidden under, he would take him to the circle. Luke reached out with the Force to lift all three cups to identify the correct hiding place. G'hinji let out a brief laugh before accepting Luke's victory. He then snapped his fingers, alerting the heroes to the fact that they'd been surrounded by nomads.

Everyone then walked together toward the shrine. Once they were close, G'hinji pointed out something reflecting from the broken altar. Luke took a closer look and saw that it was some sort of transmitter, which made him wonder who Shira had been trying to reach. He then remembered what Shira had done the first time.

Luke asked to borrow Chewbacca's knife and carefully made a thin cut on his palm, allowing the blood that dropped to land on the altar. The trio then waited patiently for a few minutes, but nothing happened. They were about to leave when a familiar voice spoke from behind them. Luke turned and was stunned to see Darth Vader standing there, saying he'd come for him. 

This was another of my favorite issues from this series when I was a child. Much like I found it hard to believe that Vader was Luke's father, I also found it very doubtful that Luke would willingly kill an ally like Shira. It was interesting how quickly his friends turned on him, but I was glad that there were still a few characters like Chewie and the droids who still had faith. I was even confident that Han would have let him borrow his ship if he hadn't been frozen in carbonite. This issue started to slowly unravel some of the mystery and plot points that had been left dangling for a while. 

That's all for now. Next time, I'll recap the sixty-third issue of this title. We'll find out what Vader's plans for Luke were, and what happened to Skywalker and Chewbacca next. We'll also see how his actions impacted those left behind on Arbra. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #61

Good afternoon,

Today's focus will be on the sixty-first issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover showed a side view of an Imperial TIE fighter, with an incensed Rebel pilot behind the controls, firing guns, flanked by several other TIEs in the background. The story was called "Screams in the Void." The issue had a publication date of July 1982. 

The tale began in the Rebel stronghold on the planet Arbra. A celebration was taking place, honoring Lieutenant Shira Brie for her bravery on the planet Shalyvane (as shown in the previous issue. Princess Leia Organa awarded her with a Burdine cluster and an advancement in rank to captain. Brie smiled smugly and stated that the pleasure was all hers before walking down the steps next to the platform as her fellow Alliance members stood by and observed.

Lando Calrissian and Luke Skywalker talked about her efforts afterward. Leia went to speak with Luke, but the Rebel pilot's mind was on congratulating Shira. C-3PO offered the princess his assistance, which she politely declined before retreating to her personal quarters. She sat in solitude for several moments before speaking to a globe that contained images of Han Solo.

She continued her one-sided conversation as she changed. Threepio returned to find her speaking to no one. Leia explained that she was discussing Imperial armada attack plans out loud before leaving with the protocol droid. The globe's images sputtered away as the pair of heroes departed.

Half a galaxy away, Imperial Admiral Giel was receiving an update from a subordinate when he took a moment to chastise a deck officer who was wearing a cap that was substandard. He frightened the poor grubber into running a few laps around the Star Destroyer before resuming his current business. The Imperial leader was talking about a unique organism called a Teezl, which was an organic communicator. His crew was devising a cage for the "screamer" which would help to improve the speed and ability of Imperial communications to continue almost anywhere. 

Back on Arbra, Luke and Shira were being briefed by a sergeant on the modifications made to the TIE fighters that they'd acquired from Orion Ferret (in issue #59). Each fighter was equipped with a transceiver that would distinguish friend from foe. The cannons had been modified to only fire six standard strength bursts. After that, they would store enough energy for a single, final, incredibly destructive shot. Luke was about to assemble the crew when Shira held him back for a moment. She knew that the mission was going to be dangerous, and wasn't sure if they'd all make it back alive. She then held Luke in her arms for a tender embrace, much to the surprise to the former farmboy from Tatooine. 

A bit later, an Imperial TIE patrol was drawn to a distress signal emanating from a world that was near the Imperial armada's location. They entered the planet's atmosphere to find a downed TIE, moments before they were attacked by X-Wing fighters. The lead pilot ejected before his craft was destroyed and came down to land right in front of Luke and his associates. Skywalker asked for the recognition codes for entrance into the armada. The pilot initially refused until a little persuasion from Chewbacca convinced him to change his mind. 

The attention then shifted to the armada itself. Luke transmitted the proper codes, and he and his fellow pilots, Alph, Thorben, and Shira, were in. They made the bridge of a nearby Star Destroyer their first target. An all-out battle soon erupted, which confused the Imperials at first. Luke noticed that his wingmate Alph's ship had been destroyed shortly before Giel employed the Teezl. The organic being's psychic shriek blocked out all communications except the predetermined Imperial war band.

Thorben realized the issue when he failed to reach Skywalker. A lucky shot damaged one of his TIE's solar panels, and he limped away from the action. Meanwhile, Luke was on the rampage. He wasn't going to let any obstacles interfere. His TIE approached the Teezl's transport cage, but there was another TIE fighter in its way. With the transceiver out, he couldn't tell right away if the fighter was piloted by a Rebel or an Imperial, so he had to use another way.

Luke reached out with the Force, which gave him the answer that the TIE blocking his path was an enemy. A single shot took out the opponent. His next, final blast destroyed the screamer's containment cage and set off an explosion that took out most of Giel's flagship Star Destroyer in the process. Giel was naturally angered and wanted the head of the pilot who caused the destruction.

Skywalker deftly evaded the crossfire and was able to escape by putting a transport ship between his craft and the TIEs that were on his tail. He then pulled a lever and entered hyperspace on his way home. Luke was in a celebratory mood after landing. However, his comrades were less than cheerful to see him.

Luke made his way to the briefing room, where Thorben was setting up the holojector. Leia asked Luke to sit down before explaining that all of their ships were equipped with holographic cameras to use for future tactical studies. Luke was wondering what that had to do with anything when Leia asked Thorben to start running the footage taken from his ship.

The first image was that of the last TIE fighter that Luke had taken out. It was the one that was in between him and the Teezl's containment cage aboard Giel's Star Destroyer. As the image was brought into closer focus, Luke was stunned to see that the ship had been piloted by his wingmate, Shira Brie. 

This issue's ending was definitely something that longtime readers and newbies were not expecting. We all know Luke Skywalker as a hero of the Rebellion, so seeing this naturally ruffled more than a few feathers. If you're intrigued, please hang in there, as the full story will play itself out over the next several issues. Believe me, they're well worth the wait.

That wraps up this article. Next time, I'll recap the sixty-second issue of this title. Luke becomes persona non grata among his fellow Alliance members as news of this incident continues to spread. He starts to doubt his faith in the Force until he thinks of a way to possibly clear his name. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #60

Good afternoon all,

It's time for me to discuss one of my favorite issues from the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover to the sixtieth issue showed Luke Skywalker, Shira Brie, and a couple of other male Rebel pilots in a circle, surrounded by several unknown warriors. The colorist for this Walt Simonson-drawn image took some liberties, as each pilot has a different colored outfit, and each of the enemy warriors is shown in blue. The tale was titled "Shira's Story." The issue had a cover date of June 1982.

The story started on the Imperial outpost known as Spindrift, which suddenly found itself under attack by TIE fighters. The crew was stunned by the strafing run, and some surmised that Darth Vader might be behind it. A commander suggested evacuating in a nearby shuttle, before that ship was destroyed. They then left in a truck, only to find their enemies had taken out the bridge. They had no other choice but to implement emergency strategic option six, which was another name for surrender.

As the TIEs landed, it was revealed that they were piloted by members of the Rebel Alliance. A prison transport was called down to house the remaining ground staff, and Thorben confirmed that they'd acquired the coded cartograph module that confirmed the Empire's armada route coordinates. That was great news for Luke and Shira. 

The ships then returned to Arbra, which still made some of the guards uneasy upon sight. Luke and his squad reported their success to Princess Leia Organa. Shira then asked for some time off to visit her home planet. Leia initially denied the request until Luke reasoned that he was at a high enough rank to have the return coordinates and suggested that they join his fellow pilot, to which Leia reluctantly agreed.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the galaxy, a portion of the Imperial fleet was being assembled under the command of Admiral Giel. Giel built his fleet from scratch and seemed rather unconcerned about the recent attack at Spindrift. He was more than willing to let the Rebels find them, confident that they would be swiftly crushed.

Some time later, a quartet of X-Wings approached the planet Shalyvane. Luke was telling R2-D2 that it was Shira's homeworld. He wasn't quite sure yet why she wanted to return, but guessed that they'd learn soon enough. The fighters landed, and Shira guided her companions to a shrine that she called the Circle of Kavaan. She insisted on approaching it alone, and Luke consented.

While the others waited, Shira kneeled before the temple. She then took out a thin blade and used it to cut her palm, allowing a small trickle of blood to drop down. Moments later, the group was aroused by the sounds of many angry natives, who began their assault on the visitors. As Luke and his fellow pilots shot back, Shira explained who they were and why they were on the warpath.

She started by saying that Shalyvane used to be a peaceful, civilized world. Nomads, much like the ones attacking them, roamed the planet and had engaged in years of seemingly endless, pointless battles with the humans. They finally reached the point where both sides chose peace. Just as a treaty was about to be signed, the planet was attacked by Imperial TIE bombers. Stormtroopers emerged from those ships and continued the conflict on the ground.

Shira was a child at the time and ran for safety, leaving all she knew behind. Years later, she'd heard that the Empire had decimated her people. That's why she chose to join the Alliance. Shira added that she returned to her homeworld every year to add her blood to that of those lost, and to renew her oath of vengeance against the Empire. 

During her story, Shira had mentioned that she'd used underground tunnels to escape the slaughter. Luke reasoned that Artoo's sensors might be able to detect those tunnels. The astrodroid soon found where an entrance was, just meters from them. Shira insisted on going down alone, right before the cave collapsed. Her colleagues were too busy fending for themselves against the nomads at the time to try to dig her out.

The battle was long and grueling, going to the point where the Rebels' blaster batteries were exhausted. Luke was about to use his lightsaber to defend his crew when their attackers were strafed from above. Luke looked up to see an X-Wing giving them enough cover to make it back to their own ships. Afterward, Shira was surrounded by her fellow Rebels, as they thanked her for her timely assistance.

Shira explained that the tunnel had closed up behind her, but that she was able to make her way back to her ship. She'd arrived just in the nick of time. The fighters then left for home, knowing more work was yet to be done. 

If you think that there are a few sketchy details from Shira's story, stay tuned, as I'll cover a bit more background in my analysis of upcoming issues. Just be a bit forewarned that not everything was quite what it seemed at first. It all sets up a very interesting climax to this storyline, which most regular readers would probably never have expected.

I remember reading this issue dozens of times after I first bought it. I even used to try replaying the battles outside as a child. It was a well-crafted story by Michelinie, Simonson, Palmer, and company. The nomads were interesting, and this wouldn't be their only appearance, either. 

That's all I have for today. Next time, I'll recap the sixty-first issue of this series. It's finally time to put those purloined TIE fighters to good use, in an all-out assault against Giel's fleet. Find out what happens during the climactic battle, including who survived. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #59

Good morning,

It's time for me to tackle the fifty-ninth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars series. The cover depicted  Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian running from a giant red and pink slug. The story was called "Bazarre." The issue had a cover date of May 1982.

The tale began on the floating marketplace platform in space known as Bazarre. Lando and Luke had no sooner arrived on the market floor when they were surrounded by armed beings. One individual even tried to assess Calrissian's trade value. 

Moments later, Orion Ferret arrived with a trio of associates at his side. He was the man that the Rebels had come to see, and were soon ushered into his private quarters. Ferret had the TIE fighters that they wanted, but had stored them on the nearby planet of Patch-4 for safekeeping. He had a shuttle ready and waiting that would take them there.

Lando was skeptical because of his previous dealings with the merchant, but paid him before they set off for their ships. On the way out, he introduced Ferret to the third member of their party, the Wookiee Chewbacca. Chewie would remain there to ensure that Ferret didn't try to trick them.

After Luke and Lando left, Ferret's subordinate P'lor informed his master that an emergency transmission was coming in from someone named Leia. He asked if it was urgent, but Ferret decided not to make things more complicated for himself and ordered P'lor to ignore it. A short while later, Lando and Luke arrived on the muddy planet Patch-4. It appeared to be a world that was covered in refuse.

Luke soon spotted the ships they'd purchased, and the duo set off for them. However, there was a giant obstacle in their way, namely, a gigantic slug that burst out of the ground before them. The beast's body was impervious to blaster fire, and Luke's lightsaber only caused minimal damage. 

Back on Bazarre, Ferret was silently plotting as Chewbacca stood watch over him. Luke learned that his transceiver was dead, moments before he and Calrissian ducked into a cave to evade another attack by the slug. They soon discovered they were not alone.

Inside the darkened cave, they found a group of hobos who had been forced to vacate their planets because of the Empire. They'd also been double-crossed by Ferret and provided the heroes with information on the slug called Caesar. While they were conversing, P'lor interrupted his leader with news about a phony concern. Ferret then went to a console that released liquid over Chewie that froze instantly into solid crystal, imprisoning the Millennium Falcon's co-pilot in a matter of moments.

On Patch-4, Lando, Luke, and their new acquaintances set out to face the slug once more. A sonic pacifier could subdue the creature, but it was on the shuttle that Luke and Lando had arrived in. While they were traversing a canyon, Chewie was busy bursting out of his prison. He was rather peeved and set out for the slimy merchant as he fled in terror.

Skywalker made a beeline for the shuttle, and Lando fired at the beast with his pistols to serve as a momentary distraction. He continued firing until the slug slumped onto the ground before him. Calrissian thought that he'd defeated his foe, until Luke announced that he'd found and activated the sonic pacifier. 

By that time, Ferret had made his way to a small shuttle that had been stored in his private hangar. He didn't see Chewbacca take several components from his pouch, which he assembled into his bowcaster rifle. The Wookiee fired a single shot, which disabled the craft before it could even move.

Chewie then went to the cockpit to retrieve its pilot and pointed out that the hour Luke and Lando gave him was up. Just then, Chewbacca's companions returned. They had the TIEs safely moored to the underside of the station, and Luke explained that the hobos on Patch-4 were using the sonic pacifier to keep the slug at bay.

Chewbacca then tossed the merchant into the remains of his shuttle before the trio left. They arrived back on Arbra a short time later, with the Imperial fighters in tow. Princess Leia and Shira Brie welcomed them and announced they were throwing a party in honor of their accomplishment. Leia just asked that Luke change his uniform before the first dance. 

The events in this issue took place at the same time as the incidents in the previous issue. It was a fun little yarn, and Ferret proved to be a rather sleazy businessman. It's a shame that this was his one and only appearance thus far. I would like to learn how he got so many guards to be loyal to his cause, even though they probably saw him for the dishonorable person that he was.

Next time, I'll cover the sixtieth issue of this series. That story gives us some insight into Shira's past, and a mission that she embarks upon with several of her fellow Rebel pilots. We'll also see one reason why the Alliance wanted a set of TIE fighters. It's the first part of a larger storyline that remains one of my favorites from this title. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #58

Good afternoon,

It's time for me to discuss the fifty-eighth issue of the first Star Wars comic. The cover, drawn by Walt Simonson, showed C-3PO and R2-D2 floating in space along with assorted spaceships, apparently heading toward certain doom. The tale was titled "Sundown!" The issue had a cover date of April 1982. 

The story started with the Millennium Falcon departing the new Rebel base world of Arbra. Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca were behind the controls, with Lando Calrissian along for the ride as part of their mission. After the ship entered hyperspace, the attention then shifted to a lone Rebel guard making his rounds moments before an important meeting adjourned. The topic of the assembly was being discussed by people leaving the council chambers, with mixed reviews.

Plif, Threepio, and Artoo remained behind with Princess Leia Organa. The protocol droid stated that his master would have excelled at a risky venture like the one Organa had proposed, and Shira Brie offered to contact him. Leia noted that Luke's mission was important enough as it was before Shira left the room.

Leia went on to show her proposed plan. The idea was to shield the Rebel fleet under a series of five Kerts-Bhrg field generators that would take the vessels through the corona of the planet's sun. It was a risky move designed to shield their detection from Imperial patrols. The primary concern was maintaining orbit, which was planned to be countered by utilizing a thruster that would be emitted from the field generator at the top of the pyramid. However, it was a theory that was as yet untested. 

A little while later, it was time to put the theory into action. Leia, General Rieekan, and Luke's droids were on hand to witness the activation of the force field generators and the pyramid's descent into the sun's corona. Everything went well at first, and they descended just as base scanners indicated the arrival of short-range fighters in the quadrant that were undoubtedly Imperial TIE fighters.

Everyone except assigned maintenance personnel was then ordered to leave the top field generator via shuttle. Artoo and Threepio lagged behind on their way to the shuttle bay when the plucky astrodroid went to address a malfunction in the generator's power feed. The two learned that the generator was about to explode moments before the shuttle bay doors closed, and the shuttle returned to Arbra.

The droids were now stranded on the field generator. The power went off briefly before backup systems kicked in. Artoo and Threepio then noticed that the maintenance staff were unconscious, presumably knocked out by the noxious fumes that emanated from burning circuitry. 

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the galaxy, Chewie was getting a bit impatient that Lando hadn't taken his turn at the cockpit yet. He and Luke were occupied with a game of Novacrown. The Wookiee made his displeasure known with a noise that disrupted the game. Lando was then happy to take his shift after the contest he was losing had been interrupted.

In the shuttle, Leia observed that passing through the corona drained most of the energy from their heat shields. She was then informed of an incoming call coming from Threepio in the control generator. She was surprised because she thought the droids were on the shuttle with her. The droid explained the malfunction and how it impacted the onboard crew and was poised to weaken the protective field surrounding the fleet. The thruster was fluctuating due to a lack of power, which could jeopardize their orbit's stability. 

At the same time, a quartet of TIE fighters was detected in their solar system. Shira suggested taking them out with a squadron from Arbra, but Leia noted that those Imperial ships would be missed, which could arouse further interest and suspicion.  She advised contacting Luke to see if his knowledge of the Force could help them in this scenario.

While his droids were facing an imminent tragedy, Skywalker was piloting the Falcon towards its destination, which was the interplanetary marketplace known as Bazarre. Artoo came up with an idea that involved rocketing to a larger ship to attach a power core. Threepio held onto his counterpart, who was wrapped in protective coating. Unfortunately, the jetpack that the protocol droid was wearing had begun to melt, and the unstable momentum could push them through the corona and into the sun itself.

After docking, Luke and Lando stepped onto the floor of the open marketplace. They were looking for a merchant named Ferret. Lando had the unpleasant experience of dealing with him back on Cloud City, so he knew from experience to be a bit wary. As it turned out, Ferret's men found them.

Leia became despondent once it seemed that the fleet had entered the sun's corona unprotected. She was then relieved to hear from Threepio once more. He explained that he and Artoo had been able to establish a temporary connection between the control generator and one of the larger Rebel ships, so that thrust could be maintained until repairs could be made. After his rocket pack melted, Artoo extended his fire extinguisher, which gave them the necessary thrust to reach the cruiser. 

The princess commended the droids for their ingenuity, which saved the fleet. She promised them lube baths when they returned before asking to have the call to Skywalker cancelled. The yeoman replied that she'd had no luck contacting the Falcon, and it was as if they'd dropped out of existence. 

This was another of my first Star Wars comic books that I had when I was younger. I read this one several times over. It was an interesting idea, if not incredibly risky, as the plot proved. I liked the focus on Threepio and Artoo, and how their clever thinking saved the day. If you like the droids, this issue is well worth the time and money.

That's a wrap for this issue. Next time, I'll cover the fifty-ninth issue of this title. That story happened at the same time as the events from this issue. We'll see what happened to Luke and Lando, and what they were trying to accomplish. We'll also learn the role that Chewbacca played in this endeavor. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #57

Good afternoon,

Now I can recap the fifty-seventh issue of the first Star Wars comic book series. The cover showed Rebels Luke Skywalker and Shira Brie battling a cadre of Imperial Stormtroopers. The story was called "Hello, Bespin, Goodbye!" The issue had a publication date of March 1982.

The story picked up right after the last issue, as Lando Calrissian was falling helplessly from Cloud City to the planet of Bespin below, after being kicked through a railing by Imperial Captain Treece. Treece and Lobot watched his plight for several moments before Lobot decided to do something about it. He went to the nearest life jet station and broke the glass. He then removed the life jet and grabbed it as he jumped off the platform.

He put the contraption on during the fall and quickly mastered its controls. It didn't take long for him to catch up with his former employer, and he was able to grab hold of him and turn the jets on to slow their descent. Elsewhere on the planet, a floating ship hovered over the surface, acting as a live news crew. Their broadcast was interrupted by the railing section from Lando's fall, which pierced one of the vessel's tibanna gas containers.

The crew then saw Lobot and Lando splash into the waters before them. They offered them a lift, moments before they were under attack by an Imperial skimmer. Lobot went to work on repairing the gas canisters while Lando sought ways to defend them from their foes. A catapulted film canister served as a missile, which struck the Imperial boat and caused it to crash explosively.

A little while later, the Ugnaught boat arrived on dry land. Its crew was receptive to the taller counterparts because Lando had always treated them well when he was Cloud City's administrator. They took the duo to their leader just as Luke and Shira's X-Wing fighters were landing on the city.

Their arrival was observed by Treece from a safe distance. The pilots disembarked along with R2-D2. Artoo quickly plugged into a computer terminal and learned why the city was vacant. The reason was the bombs that had been placed by Ugnaughts, which had been disarmed by Lobot. The mention of Skywalker's name reminded Treece that it was the rebel that Darth Vader was looking for, so he ordered his troops to attack.

The young pilots soon found themselves fighting for their lives, just as Lando and Lobot were arriving in the Ugnaughts' capital city to meet with King Ozz. Ozz respected Lando and informed him that the Empire had continued the tibanna gas mining after his departure, but doubled production rates that were more than the planet's ecosystem could produce, and came at the expense of the health, safety, and well-being of many of their kind. 

Hearing that the Imperials had turned the city into a slave camp angered Lando. He vowed to aid the Ugnaughts in their fight. In the city, the Rebel pilots were under attack from in front and now above, as a bomber launched munitions at them. Moments later, Lando, Lobot, and the Ugnaughts arrived on Cloud City in one of the Ugnaught's boats, fueled by tibanna gas.

The smaller creatures rushed into the fight and appeared to be the underdogs in the battle at first. The news crew continued filming and was about to be targeted by Treece, until Lando threatened to have Lobot re-arm the bombs. Treece then fired his pistol at the cyborg's headgear, instantly disabling it.

Luke then came up with an idea, thanks to Artoo. He used the Force to move the camera through the air and re-arm the bombs. He announced that he would detonate them and that the Imperials had sixty seconds to leave. His enemies were skeptical until they heard the explosions and saw the city start to sink.

That was enough to convince Treece and his forces to make a hasty getaway. Afterward, Luke admitted that he'd only blown the primers, which let out a bit of tibanna gas. The emergency drones were already repairing that damage as he spoke. Luke's plan was effective, but it wasn't a hit with Shira or Lando.

Once things were back to normal, there was a celebration on Cloud City. Lando, Luke, Shira, and Artoo were ready to head home. Lando disclosed that he and Lando had used the city's central computer to send a change of orders to the private bank account that Treece had on the planet Aargau. His last deposit and corresponding details were transmitted to another account, one that belonged to the Dark Lord of the Sith. 

This was a rather entertaining yarn crafted by Michelinie, Simonson, Palmer, and company. It was interesting to see more of Lobot and the Ugnaughts, who were very minor characters in The Empire Strikes Back. I'm glad that things were restored and the Empire finally had enough of Bespin and Cloud City. The idea of Ugnaughts having a broadcast crew was a fun concept that wasn't really explored very much before in this book.

That's all I have for today. Next time, I'll recap the fifty-eighth issue of this series. The Rebel Alliance tests a new way to shield their fleet from Imperial detection, but it's a plan that isn't without its own flaws. We'll also see Lando, Luke, and Chewbacca embark on a separate mission to give them an advantage in the war against the Empire. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #56

Good morning, everyone,

It's time for me to talk about the fifty-sixth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars title. The cover is another excellent drawing by Walt Simonson, which shows Lando Calrissian battling his former aide, Lobot. The tale was titled "Coffin in the Clouds." The issue had a cover date of February 1981.

The story started on Cloud City, where Lando had just landed the Millennium Falcon. He was surprised to see the city mostly deserted. As the city's former administrator, he knew that the tibanna gas mining on the planet below had to be active to keep the city above it functioning properly. It was an operation that required hundreds of people. 

He knew that the Empire's occupation (witnessed in The Empire Strikes Back adaptation) would have affected it, but decided to check things out for himself. Lando walked to the nearest information terminal and learned that most of the city's populace had evacuated to the planet because of some sort of emergency. He was wondering just what type of emergency had happened when his former assistant, Lobot, attacked him.

The cyborg viewed his previous employer as an intruder, and it didn't appear that he was functioning quite properly. Lando was able to evade his punches, but it was a struggle that led them across the city. It was another puzzling scenario that left Calrissian with more questions than answers.

Little did either of them know that an Imperial craft was just about to land at the city. The strange-looking ship was unquestioningly Imperial, and its crew soon disembarked, which we learned was a bomb squad. They reported to Captain Treece and set out to find the bombs that had been placed in the city by Ugnaughts. 

It didn't take long for Lando to spot the newly arrived Imperials. He assumed they were the threat to the city that Lobot had been referring to. He decided to draw their attention by firing on them from above, which resulted in a firefight. 

Meanwhile, on Arbra, Princess Leia Organa was making a leisurely patrol route aboard a speeder that had been outfitted for the terrain. She was satisfied with her mission, but asked a technician afterwards to have the vehicle recharged, so that she could check something out later. She then headed inside their new base, looking for a little companionship.

She came across Luke Skywalker and Shira Brie. Leia asked Luke if he would accompany her on another patrol run of the perimeter. Skywalker politely declined, noting his concern that Lando hadn't reported in yet. He and Shira were going to investigate. Leia understood and wished them well.

Back on Cloud City, Lando was being chased by the Imperials he'd spotted earlier. The conflict eventually brought him back to the same carbon freezing chamber where his friend Han Solo had been frozen (again, in the ESB adaptation) and given to the bounty hunter Boba Fett. Part of the Imperial forces were still searching for bombs and came across one that actually talked.

Treece let the bomb squad handle that matter, as he went to see how the other soldiers were doing. Lando did his best Tarzan impression by swinging from a severed cable and knocking one Stormtrooper into the carbon freezing pit. He then ran to the controls and activated them, taking that opponent out of play as a bit of retribution for Han. 

The bomb squad was doing its best, but still had difficulty countering the smart bomb, which soon set off an explosion in the city. Lando felt the blast and headed toward the central computer, only to find Lobot in his path. He skipped by before the cyborg could notice him, and soon found the source of the devastation. 

Calrissian was surveying the wreckage when he heard the familiar sound of a blaster's safety being discharged behind him. He spun around to see Captain Treece. The two pointed their pistols at each other for a while before calling a truce. The captain told Lando that he was the governor of Cloud City and that he'd been looking for eleven bombs that were placed there by Ugnaughts before they retreated to the planet. 

The Ugnaughts were previously peaceful, but something obviously changed since Lando had left. They'd given enough advance notice for the citizens to depart, but the bombs were still in the city. Treece claimed they planted the explosives because they were jealous and said they could resume mining operations in the surface world on their own.

Lando listened carefully before telling the Imperial commander that their next task would be to find Lobot. He soon got his former aide's attention and led him to an area where Treece was waiting with a landing claw to ensnare the cyborg. Lobot remained captive just long enough for Lando to remove his motivational programming capsule. 

A little while later, Lando repaired the damaged circuitry. His old friend was back to his old self. Lobot was then able to use his cybernetic senses to disarm the explosives without physically touching them. 

Lando thanked Lobot for his timely assistance. Now his attention was focused on the Ugnaughts. He wanted them to be treated humanely, while Treece viewed them as nothing more than menial servants who should do his bidding. He then declared their truce over by kicking Calrissian from the railing he was standing by and sending him careening down toward the planet below. 

I've always liked the Lobot character, ever since one of my cousins gave me his action figure many years ago. I'm glad that he was fleshed out more in this storyline, because we saw very little of him in the movie. Shira Brie proved to be another intriguing supporting character, one that would play a larger role in this series as a whole, especially in another story arc soon after this one that remains one of my favorites from this title to this day. 

This was a fun storyline because it answered the question of what happened to Bespin after the Falcon left. It delved further into Lobot, the Ugnaughts, and the Imperial occupation. There's a fair bit of humor from time to time, and I thought that it was something that the trio of Michelinie, Simonson, and Palmer did rather well. They took the subject matter seriously and understood the curiosities of the franchise's growing fan base. 

That's it for this article. Next up is the conclusion in Star Wars #57. We'll find out what happened to Lando, as well as the Ugnaughts who used to work in Cloud City. We'll also find out if Luke and Shira made it there in time to save their friend. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #55

 Good afternoon,

It's time for me to discuss the fifty-fifth issue of the first Star Wars comic book. The cover, drawn by penciler Walt Simonson, showed Chewbacca and four other Rebels facing off against a large green winged creature in a cavern that had a bright and tall crystalline structure. The tale was titled "Plif!" The issue had a cover date of January 1982.

The story started on the planet Arbra, where Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and other members of the Rebellion were part of a scouting mission. On the surface, the world seemed like the perfect place for a new base. The native hoojibs were relatively unknown to their guests, but were apparently harmless. The group made camp for the night, and Leia made her radio report to Luke Skywalker, who was on monitor duty aboard one of the larger ships that was orbiting the planet.

Leia stated that all was well, and that it was probably time to take the rest of the fleet on the eliptic that they'd talked about before. Luke understood, but was still a bit skeptical about the plan, since it could potentially leave their ships in jeopardizing situations if they came across Imperials. After the conversation ended, Luke got down from his monitor post in time to wish Lando Calrissian well. He was about to depart on the Millennium Falcon for a return trip to Cloud City.

Luke and Artoo had checked the ship out, and everything was good. As the ship took off, Luke couldn't help but wished that he was going along with his friend. However, he'd been chosen to file reports on their recent missions to the Tarkin and the planet Shiva (as chronicled in issues # 51 through 54). Artoo remained with him as a sympathetic aide.

Later that night, Threepio was woken from his inactive state by the fact that a hoojib was busy trying to consume his energy. Moments later, the camp alarms went off before being quickly depowered. It turned out that all of their machinery, including their blasters, had lost power. 

Chewbacca grabbed one of the hoojibs who swarmed past them, and was surprised to hear the creature speaking to him telepathically. The hoojib in question was named Plif, and he explained that they were forced to consume their power supplies. There was a cave deep in the planet that provided crystals that were usually more than enough for its natives. Unfortunately, the hoojibs were forced from that cave by a being called the Slivilith.

Leia, Chewbacca, and company soon learned just what that creature was, as it flew headlong toward them. Chewie was able to free one of his comrades from its tentacles, moments before Leia used a guard's charged blaster to scare it off. Plif told Leia what they knew of the intruder. It apparently had been drifting alone in space for some time until it was caught in Arbra's gravitational pull, The monster sought warmth, and the warmest part of the planet was the very cave that the hoojibs had called their home. 

The rebels understood and agreed to help the hoojibs rid themselves of the menace. A plan was formulated before the combined forces congregated outside the cave entrance. The shrill cries of the hoojibs got the Slivilith's attention, and he came roaring out, only to be attacked by long poles thrown by the Rebels. 

Leia and another officer grabbed their weapons to recharge them inside the cave. She used her blaster to free Plif from the creature's tentacle before entering the cave. What was waiting inside was truly magnificent to behold. The crystal structures were in many colors and extended from the ground for many meters.

The Rebels had little time to marvel at their surroundings before the creature returned. They fired their active blasters at it before leaping away from its grasp. Chewbacca was waiting for the beast and grabbed hold of several of its tentacles so that he could slam it violently into the cavern's floor. That was presumably the end of the Slivilith.

The hoojibs were very thankful for their new friends' assistance. The Rebels knew that they'd found a treasure trove, but were prepared to leave their hosts in peace and resume their search elsewhere. They were about to depart when Plif suggested that they would be willing to serve as their hosts indefinitely. That put a smile on the faces of Leia and the many other weary Alliance members. 

A few days later, the Rebel fleet amassed near Arbra and began preparations for establishing their new base of operations. Elsewhere, Lando had finally arrived back at Bespin. He landed the Falcon and took a look around. He was wondering how much had changed since the Imperial invasion (as chronicled during The Empire Strikes Back adaptation), not knowing that someone was waiting for him just around the corner. 

This was one of my favorite issues growing up. I remember finagling my initial copy from a polybag set at a ShopKo store (a retail chain in the Upper Midwest that was similar to Kmart or Target) just because I didn't want the other issue in that pack. The Slivilith was an interesting concept. I'm surprised that we haven't seen others of his kind so far in any other Star Wars comics. Plif and his fellow hoojibs would remain loyal allies of the Rebellion and were shown sporadically all the way through the series' end in 1986.

Well, that's all I've got for today. Next time, I'll recap the fifty-sixth issue of the series. It's the first of a two-part story by this issue's creative team of writer David Michelinie and artists Walt Simonson and Tom Palmer. It concentrates on Lando's return to Cloud City. We'll learn what happened after he left the planet, and whether or not Imperial influence still remained there. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Star Wars (1977) #54

Hi there,

It's time for me to recap the fifty-fourth issue of Marvel's first Star Wars comic. The cover showed Princess Leia and Lord Aron fleeing from Imperial General Sk'Ar and his Stormtrooper legion. It's a bright cover, but aside from Sk'ar, there isn't much detail to any of the other characters on it. The story was named "Starfire Rising!" The issue had a cover date of December 1981.

The tale began where the previous issue left off. Aron had been captured by large Stormtroopers and brought to Sk'ar's headquarters along with Leia. The Empire had plans for taking over this planet as they'd done to many others in the galaxy. Leia was soon tossed into the room after enduring an interrogation. They were surprised to see Aron's longtime ally Delois at Sk'ar's side. The heroes then learned of the turncoat's true intentions. 

It wasn't all that long ago that Leia, Aron, and many of the world's citizens had been celebrating the first anniversary of their signing of the concordat of peace. Sk'ar planned to decimate its peaceful populace with an antimatter bomb. From the ashes they hoped would arise a more subservient populace, one that was loyal to the Empire.

Sk'ar ordered his prisoners to be taken to a holding area until his return. Leia and Aron fought their captors, and Organa was engaged in a knife fight with an Imperial commander at one point. While Aron struggled to free himself, he saw the officer's knife find its mark and heard Leia emit a painful sigh. He broke his chains and rushed to his companion, to find that it was her foe who had perished. Leia was stunned by watching her opponent's life fade from his eyes.

A little while later, they boarded a flier and set off in pursuit of Sk'ar's ship. They caught up with it before very long, but the smaller craft was no match for Imperial TIE fighters. The duo made a strafing run before jumping on board Sk'ar's vessel. There, they fought off even more Imperial forces.

Leia reached the bomb's controls and attempted to defuse it. She was struck from behind by Delois, who was then countered by Luke Skywalker. Leia was glad to see her fellow Rebel. After knocking Delois unconscious, he ran to her aid. She'd suffered a minor wound, but needed to concentrate on the task at hand. 

Luke went to join the fray, along with Aron's colleague Keral Longknife and Chewbacca, who had been dropped off from the Millennium Falcon. Lando was piloting the Falcon and found a landing spot, moments before crossing paths with Sk'ar. The Imperial was using a personal force shield, which made Lando's blaster attack ineffective. 

Leia finally defused the bomb and ran into Luke's arms to celebrate. Lando noticed that Sk'ar was escaping in another ship, but a gun mount tossed by Chewie destroyed the craft and seemingly ended the threat for the moment. Several days later, the palace was welcoming its heroes before the start of another celebration.

Somewhere in the back of the crowd, R2-D2 had received important news. C-3PO relayed its urgency to Chewbacca, who made his way through the throng of people gathered to notify Lando that an Imperial Star Destroyer had just entered the system and was headed toward the planet. As the Falcon soared into action to meet the challenge, Leia pondered the possibility that this could spell doom for the people she'd gotten to know since her shuttle crashlanded there (in the last issue).

Luke and Leia took to the gun turrets to take out incoming TIEs, but they weren't out of the woods just yet. The fighters were leading them right into the Star Destroyer's path. The Falcon was between the Imperial ship and a black hole. Luke yanked Lando from the pilot's seat and took over.

Skywalker used his knowledge of the Force to guide their ship carefully around and past the black hole. The Star Destroyer that followed them was not as lucky. The larger craft was slowly disintegrating as its crew realized, too late, that they could not evade it. 

Lando congratulated Luke on a job well done but warned him never to pull a stunt like that again. Luke was drained because of the exertion the task required and from his empathy for the people on board the enemy ship who had just lost their lives. As they departed, Luke told Leia she could have remained behind on Shiva if she wanted. She refused that offer, stating that she was the Princess of Alderaan and would continue to be that to the very end. Luke understood, noting that he'd be right by her side. 

I felt like the conclusion to this storyline was a bit rushed. They could have easily pushed this to three issues and provided more background on Aron, his planet, and his family and friends. I guess if we wanted to know more, we'd just have to revisit writer Chris Claremont's issues of Marvel's John Carter, Warlord of Mars issues that he scripted, since these characters were loosely based on some of the central figures in those issues. Because of their contractual issues with Lucasfilm, I knew that Marvel wasn't about to let Leia remain on Shiva, but it's a pity that Aron and his comrades weren't included in any other stories going forward.

Well, that's it for this article. Next time, I'll summarize the fifty-fifth issue of this series. This is another popular tale that was also later adapted for a book and record. Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids are part of a Rebel caravan that lands on a world that might become the next Rebel base. However, it has a secret that could endanger that possibility. We'll also see where Lando headed following the events covered in this blog post. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.